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Find financial and money saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum.

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Find financial and money saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum.

Money matters

Has anyone employed an architect?

31 replies

Katymac · 03/03/2007 19:11

Or had any drawings done??

How much did it cost?

How much input did they have?

Was it easy/hard - any hints or tips?

TIA
KMc

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jollymum · 03/03/2007 19:21

My dh is an architect, do you need specifics? He doesn't do much domestic stuff but be careful, you can get ripped off big time. To be fair, it's quite expensive I think. He's coking at the mo, so he'll try asnd get back to you.

HTH

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treacletart · 03/03/2007 19:23

There's a riba download her called how to get the best from your architect , might be useful.

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Katymac · 03/03/2007 19:28

Thanks Treacletart - I'll have a read

Jollymum - It's a commercial building (children's day nursery) - so I would appreciate advise

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jollymum · 03/03/2007 19:40

OK, we're cooking meatballs at the moment so will get back to you. I know you were doing your nursery before and Dh has done lots of environ. friendly so hop-e he'll be useful!

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jollymum · 03/03/2007 19:44

I remember you had a thread about your nursery before and couldn't remember all the details to tell DH. Sorry, but why didn't the portacabin site work? DH is nearly ready!

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Katymac · 03/03/2007 19:47

The barn is approximately 10m by 20m. The walls are single thickness concrete blocks (approx 3.6m high) and the roof is asbestos cement and must be removed according to the Local Authority, Building Control Department. It is about 20m from the road and has grazing land to the south and west, and an arable field to the north.

The existing door faces due east and the right hand side of the building is where I envisage the play area. The east, north east and working northwards will be the drive & car parking. The west side is where I hope to have a vegetable garden and keep some chicken.

I have enclosed a floor plan of the barn, along with a view of the 2 main walls, I haven?t worked out where exactly the windows should go.

It has been my intention to:

Externally

? Remove the top 1.2m of wall (to reduce the need for a suspended ceiling and limit the amount of space to heat).
? Replace the roof (unsure of which sort of roofing I will need to use ? cost is a major implication here).
? Render the outside ? due to several cracks (this would lead to external insulation).
? Super insulate ? to save on heating & hopefully cooling costs (however I am not sure how insulation and keeping cool works).
? Solar hot water (when funding allows)
? Rainwater harvesting (when funding allows)
? Shading to protect the children whilst playing
? Vegetable gardens (for the children to learn how to grow food, to provide food for the kitchen and selling any surplus to the parent to help with funds.
? Keep chickens for eggs (only!)

Internally

? To heat with a wood/pellet/straw burner/GSHP
? Use underfloor heating
? Use Linoleum on the floor ? with recycled (hopefully) carpets in staff room & office areas)
? Run a ?dado? round the inside of the external wall at 1.2m to hold the electrical cables and sockets
? To finish the interior walls at a later stage (when funding allows)
? The kitchen must be a catering kitchen with sealed flooring and stainless steel cupboards & counter tops (I intend to see if the cupboards/white goods/cooker can be purchased second hand)
? Large low windows ? maybe 30cm from the floor
? Double doors to the play area from each room area

Hope this helps - but I can clarify any issue (maybe??)

Thanks Loads I do appreciate it

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Katymac · 03/03/2007 19:48

Maybe that's a bit much detail....sorry

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Katymac · 04/03/2007 20:01

Bump for Jollymum

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jollymum · 05/03/2007 18:52

So sorry, have a sick child and worked my socks off today. DH is online if you need him but I'll just let him read the stuff first.

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jollymum · 05/03/2007 18:59

So sorry, have a sick child and worked my socks off today. DH is online if you need him but I'll just let him read the stuff first.

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jollymum · 05/03/2007 19:04

Hello. It's Jollymum's DH.
Lots to go on so to avoid hugely long posts would you prefer to do it by e-mail? A bit slower but easier for sending drawings and web links.

HTH

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jollymum · 05/03/2007 19:17

Bump for Katymac

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BettySpaghetti · 05/03/2007 19:23

We had plans drawn up 4 yrs ago for a 2 storey extension with a single storey attached.

The architect visited us for a consultation on site so we could discuss what we hoped for etc. He then produced about 4 different options in sketch form - when we decided which we wanted to go for he drew up the full plans for that one.

It was a bit different for us in that the architect was an acquaintance of ours so we probably got a good deal as he spent a lot of time with us discussing it (over a drink etc) -we paid £800 I think.

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Katymac · 05/03/2007 19:26

Hiya - I'm arround now

My website is on my profile & my email is there......(I think?)

Appreciate any help

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Katymac · 05/03/2007 20:23

Bump for Jollymum or her DH

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jollymum · 05/03/2007 21:29

Hi we'r back, having tea and getting various kids to bed. Will try and do the email etc...not good at this so hang on!!

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Katymac · 05/03/2007 21:39

We keep missing each other....

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jollymum · 05/03/2007 21:59

Jollymum's DH

E-mail essay on the way!

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ChocolateGirl · 05/03/2007 22:00

We had a double storey extension built last year and used an architect for that. I think he cost about £1500 in total which was split roughly as follows: £500 for the initial consultation and drawings, £500 for the detailed drawings and plans for builders, etc., £500 for over-seeing the project.

He wasn't from a big company or anything, just an independent person that a builder we met had recommended.

HTH

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Katymac · 05/03/2007 22:05

Thanks Bettyspaghetti & ChocolateGirl

I think mine will be a bit more expensive as it's commercial (& green unfortunatley)

Jlooymum, Looking forward to reading it (all) when it arrives

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Katymac · 05/03/2007 22:14

Sorry Jollymum - it hasn't arrived yet

I will read it first thing I promise

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cat64 · 05/03/2007 22:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Katymac · 06/03/2007 07:49

Thanks Cat64 - that's one of the problmems

Along with finding an architect in the first place

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tissy · 06/03/2007 08:08

our architect for our extension is charging 15% of the build cost- seems like a lot, but he is doing everything; plans, detailed drawings, liaising with council for planning permission, building warrants, putting it out to tender and project managing the build, as we both work full-time.

I've seen what sort of trouble people get into doing all that themselves, so am prepared to pay it!

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jura · 06/03/2007 10:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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